Sox Thoughts

Believe it or not, its hot stove time, and that means time to start talking about the 2007 iteration of the Olde Towne Team.

Ok, first off, let's get this straight... the Sox are paying the Japanese team the Seibu Lions upwards of 50 million dollars for the exclusive right to NEGOTIATE with Japanese fireballer and WBC MVP Daisuke Matsuzaka? So, assuming he gets Josh Beckett money (and, hopefully pitches better than Beckett), we are looking at approximately 75 million dollars for 3 years for this pitcher and his gyro ball. Sidenote: Does that mean they will start serving gyros at Sox games? And more importantly, will the Bostonist Greek community come out in droves for both the gyro ball and gyros at concessions?

While Matsuzaka has great career numbers in Japan, so did Hideki Irabu. And we all know how that turned out. Seems like a lot of money to risk on a Far East baseball presence.

On the flip side, the rotation could look something like this next year:

1. Schilling
2. Matsuzaka
3. Beckett
4. Papelbon
5. Wakefield / Lester

Assuming that Papelbon is what everyone is hoping he will be, that is a darn good start to a pitching staff... now if we only had a closer...

Speaking of closers, goodbye/good ridance to Keith Foulke. Talk about a Jeykll and Hyde case (or maybe head case). But, Bostonists, you have to hand it to him though for the 2004 season, especially the playoffs. People soon forget that he had 4 (yes, 4) saves in the World Series alone. He may have given up his career to win that one for us, so before we all pile on to the guy who called Sox fans "Johnny from Burger King", we should thank him for 2004. But, 2005/2006 was the closer equivalent of an abortion. Thanks for 2004 Keith.

Theo Epstein is down in Naples, Florida for the winter meetings and has stated he has made 2 offers to free agent pitchers. It is assumed that one is to Matsuzaka, and the rumor is that the second was made to right-handed starter Adam Eaton, who pitched last season for the Texas Rangers.

The Sox are looking to bolster an aging bullpen, and who knows what the infield and outfield will look like next year. As of now its Manny, Coco, and Willy Mo... sounds like characters on the cover of a breakfast cereal box.

As far as the infield goes, second base looks to be Dustin Pedroia's to lose. Hopefully at the corners, the Sox can improve their power numbers, as last year displayed that Manny and Papi (MVP?) can not do it on their own.